Sheriff’s office receives rescue vehicles

Search and rescue teams in Hood River County will now have their jobs made a bit easier through the generosity of the Bonneville Power Administration.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office recently received an equipment donation from BPA that will help officers and search teams when responding to certain types of incidents.

BPA donated a travel trailer, utility trailer and an all-terrain vehicle that the Sheriff’s Office is now using for criminal investigations and search and rescue missions in Hood River County and the Columbia River Gorge.

“This donation has an immediate impact since every resource we can deploy in a rescue effort improves our odds of finding those that are missing and in need,” said Sheriff Joe Wampler.

BPA offers excess equipment to government organizations when it upgrades its fleet to meet changing operational needs.

“Our crews used this equipment to perform work throughout the region, so donations like this ensure our retired equipment continues to serve the people of the Northwest. And in this case, the ATV and trailers could very well help the sheriff’s office save a life,” said BPA spokesman Joel Scruggs.

The travel trailer is equipped with an office and living quarters which will give personnel the ability to stay on the scene of major criminal incidents, searches and public events, providing mobile office space.

The utility trailer is designed to allow hauling of multiple ATVs, equipment or material, filling a need at the sheriff’s office.

In addition to search and rescue operations, the ATV will allow personnel to access remote, hard-to-access areas and haul cargo in or out in the process.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office “wants to thank the BPA for providing tools to help make our community safer,” said Wampler.